Chiang Mai Journal of Science

Each individual’s fingerprint pattern is unique and polygenically inherited. Previous empirical studies have shown variation in fingerprint pattern types as well as variation in fingerprint pattern concordance between males and females and between populations. However, few studies have examined these characteristics in the Thai population. Therefore, the present study aims to examine differences in fingerprint pattern types between the sexes and differences in fingerprint pattern concordance between homologous fingers among healthy Thai adolescent subjects. In this study, the proportions of fingerprint pattern types were compared with Asian, African, and Caucasian populations. A sample of 724 males and 1410 females from northeastern Thailand gave consent and had their ten fingertips scanned using Automated Inkless Fingerprint Imaging Software. The types of fingerprint patterns were identified and classified into arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, whorl, and double loop whorl types. To test for differences between the sexes, Chi-square ( c2), likelihood ratio c2, Fisher’s exact, and Mann-Whitney tests were performed. The types of fingerprint patterns were totalled over the ten fingers, and it was found that the frequencies of the radial loop and double loop whorl types were significantly greater among males compared to females. The most common fingerprint pattern type was the ulnar loop, which was found on every finger of the right hand. The concordance of the fingerprint patterns on the index and little fingers of males was significantly lower than in females, who showed averages for the five homologous fingers of 3.75 and 3.79, respectively. Moreover, the arch pattern showed significantly higher concordance in females compared to males. Within the Thai population, the frequency of fingerprint pattern types was statistically identical to that found in other Asian populations, with the exception of the Chinese population. In contrast, statistical differences in fingerprint pattern types were found both between Thai and African populations and between Thai and Caucasian populations.